Portable step stool

ABSTRACT

A stool suitable for standing upon to reach high places is described. The stool includes an upstanding post to be grasped by the user to keep his balance and also includes a roller which is normally inactive but which, when the stool is tilted, becomes active enabling the stool to be rolled about easily. One embodiment includes a step at a first level and a platform at a higher level.

1451 Oct. 15,1974

United States Patent 1 Caughey 1 PORTABLE STEP STOOL rl e m mu H wL Mm .a m i W m: l m J R r we .mr mm x m WQ m .mm rf. PA 6 V A m0 E4 4 y3 e0 3 n .7 C -UH.&, WmZ h e m m JAJ O m d e v M .m F l l 6 2 7 2 [57 ABSTRACT A stool suitable for standingppon to reach high places 21 Appl. No.: 374,520

is described. The stool includes an upstanding post to be grasped by the user to keep his balance and also includes a roller which is normally inactive but which, when the stool is tilted, becomes active enabling the stool to be rolled about easily. One embodiment includes a step at a first level and a platform at a higher level.

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182/16 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1,416,018 5/1922 Hall 1,452,076 4/1923 Howard 2 392 584 1/1946 Falkenstein....................v.....v

PORTABLE STEP STOOL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally tostools and particu-'- larly to those stools which are primarily intended to be stood upon rather than sat upon.

BACKGROUND Many kinds of stools are known such as those resembling a simple box, those with a flat platform supported by three or four legs, those mounted on wheels or casters which retract when loaded, and many others including more complex varieties with two or more steps which swing or fold out when in use. All of these may be stood upon to assist a'person in reaching high places such as top shelves. However, heretofore all have been subject to one or more disadvantages. If the stool is a small, simple platform, a user may lose his balance unless something external is available to be grasped. Additionally, whenit is to be moved, one must bend down and pick it up. If it be mounted on spring biased casters it maytend to roll when in use. If the stool has many steps, such as a small ladder, it may be awkward to move.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved stool.

A more specific object is to provide a stool including a built in support and which also is convenient to move and to store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, a stool incorporating the present invention includes an elevated platform to be stood upon and an upstanding post to be grasped to assist the user in keeping his balance. The stool also includes a roller mounted so as to be inactive when the stool is in normal use but which becomes active when the stool is tilted backward, as by pulling the post, enabling the stool to be rolled along the floor. A preferred embodiment includes a step in addition to the platform and also provides for quick detachment of the post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a clearer understand of the invention reference may be made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the stool shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view, partly schematic, which is useful in explaining the invention;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of a modification of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a stool in accordance with the invention comprising two generally rectangular upright side members 11 and 11' having bottom edges 12 and 12', top edges 13 and 13', front edges 14 and I4 and rear edges 15 and 15. The members I1 and 11' are disposed parallel to each other and the bottom edges 12 and 12' are intended to engage and be supported in a generally vertical position by a flat surface such as a floor. A generally rectangular top member '16 is supported by and fastened to the top edges 13 and 13' of the members 11 and 11'. The front of the stool preferably is closed by a front member 17 fastened to the side members 11 and 11' and the top member 16 which serves as a platform on which the user may stand. A roller 18 is mounted on a shaft 19 which in turn is mounted on the side member 11 so that the roller 18 is on the exterior of the member 11 near the lower rear corner.

The axis of the shaft 19 is perpendicular to the plane of the side member 11 so that in normal use this axis is parallel to the floor.

The top member 16 is formed to define an aperture 21 located near the back approximately midway'between the side members 11 and 11. As best shown in FIG. 2, the stool includes a cross member 22 fastened to and extending between the side members 11 and 11 adjacent to the rear edges and at a level slightly above the roller 18. The cross member 22 is formed with a recess 23 approximately the same size as and directly beneath the aperture 21. A post 24 has its lower end supported by the cross member 22 at the bottom of the recess 23 and extends upwardly through the recess 23 and the aperture 21 with both of which it makes a sliding fit so that it may be installed and removed readily. The top of the post is preferably formed with a groove 25 suitable for supporting the bail of a paint pail. Also shown in FIG. 2 is a roller 18 mounted on a shaft 19 coaxial with the shaft 19, near the lower rear corner of the side member 11 and on the exterior thereof.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the axis of the shaft 19 is located at a distance a l above the bottom edge 12 of the side member 11 and a distance d2 forward of the rear edge 15. Both distances d1 and d2 are preferable approximately equal to the radius r of the roller 18 (shown in outline in FIG. 3). The junction between the rear edge 15 and the bottom edge 12 is cut away along a line 26 sufficiently so that as the stool is tilted backward the roller 18 engages the supporting surface, such as the floor, and the bottom edge 12 (and the edge 12) becomes disengaged from the supporting surface. The edges 12 and 15 are preferably cut away sufficiently so that no portion of either edge extends beyond the lower rear quadrant of the roller 18. The cut portion may be either straight or curved, as shown, so long as it is cut away sufficiently. Thus, in normal use, the stool rests securely on the floor with little, if any, weight carried by the rollers 18 and 18' yet when it is desired to move the stool, it is only necessary to take hold of the post 24 and tilt the stool backward slightly whereupon the rollers become active and the stool may be rolled about easily.

Although the distances d1 and d2 are preferably both approximately equal to the radius of the roller 18, neither dimension is critical, that is, close tolerances in manufacture are not required. If d1 is a little greater than r, it will be necessary to tilt the stool backward a little farther before the rollers engage the floor. If d1 is less than r, the rollers will support some weight and the stool may be less stable than otherwise. If d2 is less than r, less of the junction between rear and bottom edges need be cutaway but the rollers will extend beyond the rear edge of the stool so that it cannot be stored flush and d2 be approximately equal to r, but small departures therefrom will not seriously degrade operation.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown an embodiment of the invention which may be preferred for some purposes. This embodiment is similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 except that the side members 11 and 11' are formed with the junction between their front and top edges, 14, 14' and 13, 13, cutaway along lines parallel to these edges to form ledges on each, such as the ledge 31, which supports a stair tread 32. The ledges are preferably at about one half of the height of the side members and of convenient depth for a stair tread. The top member 33 is preferably large enough to accomodate the soles of two large feet without any overhang. Two risers, 34 and 35, extend above and below the tread 32. The remainder of the stool may be substantially the same as previously described in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring now to FIG. there is shown a modification which may be made to either of the previously described embodiments. ln this modification, the exterior rollers 18 and 18 have been replaced by a single interior roller 37 mounted on an axle 38 supported by the side members 11 and 11. The location of the axis of its axle 38 is preferably the same as that previously described for the axis of the shafts 19 and 19. This embodiment has the advantage that it is more compact and easier to store because there are no exterior rollers to get in the way.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that applicant has provided an improved stool which affords support for ones feet, a handy post for one to grasp to maintain his balance (and upon which to hang a paint pail) and which can be moved about readily and stored easily.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail for illustrative purposes, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore desired that the protection afforded by Letters Patent be limited only by the true scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A stool, comprising, first and second generally rectangular upright side members disposed parallel to each other and each having a bottom edge, a top edge, a front edge and a rear edge, said bottom edges being adapted to be engaged and supported by a flat surface, a generally rectangular top member supported by said side members and fastened to the top edges thereof, and an elongated roller mounted between said side members for rotation about an axis parallel to said surface and located above said bottom edges and forward of said rear edges by first and second distances, respectively, both approximately equal to the radius of said roller, so that no portion of said roller projects substantially beyond said rear edges of said side members, said side members each being formed with the junction between said rear and bottom edges cut away sufficiently so that as said stool is tilted backward said roller engages said surface and said bottom edges become disengaged therefrom, whereby said stool may be rolled along said surface and whereby said stool may be stored in a space little wider than the width of the stool and with said rear edges of said side members substantially flush against a wall.

2. A stool in accordance with claim 1 in which said junctions between said rear and bottom edges are cut away sufficiently so that no portion of either edge extends beyond the lower rear quadrant of said roller and in which said side members are formed with the junction between said front and top edges notched to form a ledge parallel to said top and bottom edges approximately midway there between and which includes a stair tread mounted on said ledges and which includes a post extending upwardly through an aperture in said top member located adjacent to said rear edge approximately midway between said side members and which includes a cross member beneath said top member and supported by said side members and formed with a recess for receiving the lower end of said post.

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1. A stool, comprising, first and second generally rectangular upright side members disposed parallel to each other and each having a bottom edge, a top edge, a front edge and a rear edge, said bottom edges being adapted to be engaged and supported by a flat surface, a generally rectangular top member supported by said side members and fastened to the top edges thereof, and an elongated roller mounted between said side members for rotation about an axis parallel to said surface and located above said bottom edges and forward of said rear edges by first and second distances, respectively, both approximately equal to the radius of said roller, so that no portion of said roller projects substantially beyond said rear edges of said side members, said side members each being formed with the junction between said rear and bottom edges cut away sufficiently so that as said stool is tilted backward said roller engages said surface and said bottom edges become disengaged therefrom, whereby said stool may be rolled along said surface and whereby said stool may be stored in a space little wider than the width of the stool and with said rear edges of said side members substantially flush against a wall.
 2. A stool in accordance with claim 1 in which said junctions between said rear and bottom edges are cut away sufficiently so that no portion of either edge extends beyond the lower rear quadrant of said roller and in which said side members are formed with the junction between said front and top edges notched to form a ledge parallel to said top and bottom edges approximately midway there between and which includes a stair tread mounted on said ledges and which includes a post extending upwardly through an aperture in said top member located adjacent to said rear edge approximately midway between said side members and which includes a cross member beneath said top member and supported by said side members and formed with a recess for receiving the lower end of said post. 